Mounting means for various flashbulbs and flashcubes within a photographic flashgun

ABSTRACT

A flashgun for mounting various flashbulbs and flashcubes is shown having a housing with a first socket into which the flashcube is inserted. A resiliently mounted U-shaped locking member yields as the flashcube is inserted between the pawled arms thereof for locking the flashcube against the urging of an ejection spring within the socket. Depression of a pushbutton contacts the resiliently mounted locking member and frees the flashcube for ejecting it from the socket. A second socket is provided into which various-sized flashbulbs are inserted between a pair of pivoted holding members mounted on opposite sides of the socket. A pair of base contact members engage the flashbulbs, for urging the base of the flashbulbs against the inner edges of the holding members. Depression of the pushbutton contacts the pivoted holding members and frees the flashbulb for socket ejection.

United States Patent [7 2] Inventor Masahiko Iwaki Fujiswa-shi, Japan[21] Appl. No. 859,893

[22] Filed Sept. 22, 1969 [45] Patented Sept. 28, 1971 [7 3] AssigneeHoneywell Inc.

Minneapolis, Minn.

[32] Priority Sept. 2 1, l 968 [3 3] Japan [54] MOUNTING MEANS FORVARIOUS FLASIIBULBS AND FLASHCUBES WITHIN A PI-IOTOGRAPHIC ReferencesCited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,439,158 4/1969 Sawada 240/13 PrimaryExaminerDonald O. Woodie] Attorneys-Arthur H. Swanson and Lockwood D.Burton ABSTRACT: A flashgun for mounting various flashbulbs andflashcubes is shown having a housing with a first socket into which theflashcube is inserted. A resiliently mounted U- shaped locking memberyields as the flashcube is inserted between the pawled arms thereof forlocking the flashcube against the urging of an ejection spring withinthe socket. Depression of a pushbutton contacts the resiliently mountedlocking member and frees the flashcube for ejecting it from the socket.A second socket is provided into which variousg a g sized flashbulbs areinserted between a pair of pivoted holding aims rawmg members mounted onopposite sides of the socket. A pair of [52] U.S.Cl 240/13 base contactmembers engage the flashbulbs, for urging the [51] Int. Cl ..G03b 15/02base of the flashbulbs against the inner edges of the holding [50] Fieldof Search 240/ L3; members. Depression of the pushbutton contacts thepivoted 95/] 1, 1 1.5 holding members and frees the flashbulb for socketejection.

A l l I 7 "44 1c 6 4 43 i l l l i i i l I l PATENTEU SEP28 197! 3,09,334

sum 2 or 3 INVEN'I'OR. MASAHIKO IWAKI BY I v ATTORNEY.

PATENTED SEP28 |97| 3; 09,334

sum 3 or 3 INVENTOR. MASAHIKO IWAKI ATTORNEY.

MOUNTING MEANS FOR VARIOUS FLASIIBULBS AND FLASIICUBES WITHIN API-IOTOGRAPI'IIC FLASl-IGUN The present invention relates to aphotographic flashgun having a socket for holding a flashcube and asocket for bolding various flashbulbs and, more particularly to amounting means by which a flashcube may be mounted in a rotary turret,intermittently rotated, for successively facing the flashcube toward anobject to be photographed or a flashbulb may be mounted for facing theobject to be photographed.

A conventional flashcube is generally a cube-shaped unit having fourflash faces with four built-in flashbulbs which must be intermittentlyrotated so that any one flash face is faced, at every limited rotation,to the object to be photographed. Thus, the socket for the flashcubeshould be rotated and stopped in four successive positions so that thefour flash faces are each faced accurately toward the object to bephotographed. The flashcube socket is, further, required to be easilyhandled during the mounting and detaching operation of the flashcube. Inthe prior art the rotation control of a flashcube-mounting flashgunbecomes a large-sized one and consequently the conventional flashattachment with such prior rotational control is, necessarily, a large,weighted construction unhandy to carry about. Further, the flashguns ofthe prior art are not capable of mounting both flashcubes and flashbulbswithin a singularly controlled flashgun.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide animproved flashgun-mounting means for various flashbulbs and flashcubes.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a flashgun with aflashcube rotation control in which the limited rotational movement ofthe flashcube is surely controlled and in which the construction issimple so that the flashcube socket incorporated with this controlbecomes a small, light unit.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a flashgun formounting flashbulbs and flashcubes with a single simplified method ofejecting the flashbulb and flashcubes therefrom.

Still a further object is to provide an improved flashgunmounting socketfor flashbulbs and flashcubes which is simple in construction, low incost, and dependable in operation.

In accomplishing these and other objects, there is provided a flashgunhaving a flashbulb socket with a pair of flashbulbholding means pivotedon opposite sides of a guide opening located within the socket. Theflashbulb-holding means effectively close the guide opening from theinside. As a flashbulb is inserted between the flashbulb-holding meansinto the guide opening, it engages base contact means which areresiliently urged against the flashbulb. The flashbulb is inserted untilthe opposite inner edges of the flashbulb-holding means engage and holdthe flashbulb against the urging of the base contact means for retainingit within the socket.

A flashcube socket is also provided into which a flashcube having adepending cylindrical post with retaining lugs or projections extendinglaterally therefrom is inserted. Each projection is arranged with thelower face thereof formed as an inclined ramp. A flashcube-lockingmember, in the form of a U-shaped element having ramped pawls upon theend of each of the legs, is adapted to be abutted against thecorresponding ramps on the projection of the inserted flashcube. Theflashcube-locking member is reciprocatively arranged within theflashcube socket against a detent spring, while an ejecting spring isarranged to yield as the flashcube is inserted into the socket. As theflashcube is thrust into the socket against the ejecting spring, theramps of the flashcube projections are forcibly pressed against thecorresponding ramps on the pawls of the flashcube-locking member fordriving that member laterally against the detent spring. Theflashcube-locking member then returns to its initial position forengaging the pawls over the flashcube projections and restraining theflashcube against the dislodgement force exerted by the ejecting spring.Ejection of both the flashbulbs or the flashcube is achieved bydepressing a single pushbutton.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of the presentinvention will appear from the following description, when considered incombination with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partially in cross section showingthe improved photographic flashgun in which the present invention isembodied;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a flashcube socket assembly;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a rotary current of carrierfor holding a flashcube;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are top and bottom views of the rotary turret;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a flashbulb socket assemblyfor holding various flashbulbs;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing a condition where a flashbulb isheld or retained;

FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C and 7D are top plane views illustrating four successivestop positions of the rotary turret;

FIG. 8 illustrates operation of the rotary turret; and

FIGS. 9A, 9B and 9C are schematic views showing the operationalrelationship between the flashcube socket assembly and the flashbulbsocket assembly.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1, illustrating a flashgun in whicha flashbulb A and a flashcube B may be inserted and used selectively orconcurrently. A main housing I of the flashgun receives therein ahorizontally disposed flashbulb socket assembly, which is generallyshown at 2, and a vertically disposed flashcube socket assembly which isgenerally shown at 3. The flashcube socket assembly 3 is located justabove the flashbulb socket assembly 2. The main housing I is alsoprovided, on the outer bottom face thereof, with a mounting device 5having a coupling plate 4 adapted to be connected with an accessory shoeof a camera, not shown. A flashbulb socket member 6, which is anessential component of the flashbulb socket assembly 2, is closelyfitted in an opening 7 provided in a front wall of the housing 1. Thesocket member 6 has a socket guide opening 8 to universally receivetherein a base A of the flash lamp A, for example of the AC type, the Mtype or the bayonet type.

The flashcube socket assembly 3 has a rotary turret 9, loosely fitted atits upper portion in an opening 10 of a top wall 18 of the housing 1.The top face of the turret 9 is exposed out of the top wall 18 andpositioned in coplanar alignment with the outer face of the top wall 1B.The rotary turret 9 is, further, provided in the top face thereof with acrossed slot 11 which may receive and retain a depending post projectingdownwardly from the bottom of the flashcube B. The opening 10 of thehousing 1 is also provided at its upper circumferential edge with anannular recess or groove 12 to receive a cylindrical skirt portion Bprojecting downwardly from the bottom of the flashcube B. Thecylindrical skirt portion B is surrounded therearound with electricalterminals, not shown. It will be understood that the electricalterminals are exposed outwardly from electrical contact with a pair ofelectrical terminals within the forward portion of the annular recess.

The flashcube socket assembly 3 will be now described in detail withreference to FIG. 2. A baseplate 13, which is of substantiallyrectangular configuration, has at the center thereof an aperture IS inwhich is inserted and journaled a rotating shaft 14 depending downwardlyfrom the bottom of the rotary turret 9. Between the rotary turret 9 andthe baseplate 13 is interposed an accumulator spring assembly to give aturning force to the rotary turret 9. The accumulator spring assemblycomprises a downwardly opened cup-shaped retainer 17 and a spiral spring18 received in the retainer 17 with the spiral spring 18 being wound upin a counterclockwise direction, as taken from the top view thereof. Thespiral spring 18 has an innermost end 18A engaged in a slit 19 providedin the rotating shaft 14 and has an outermost end 183 welded to theinner peripheral surface 17A of the retainer 17. A lug 17B is formed onthe lower end of said retainer 17 and is adapted to extend through andengage with an engaging slot 20 in the baseplate l3.

The rotary turret 9 comprises an upper part or flashcube mounting part21 and a lower part or cam part 22, as shown in Fig. 3. These upper andlower parts 21 and 22 are welded, adhered or otherwise suitablyassembled to each other. The flashcube-mounting part 21 is provided onthe peripheral sidewall thereof with an annular shouldered or steppedportion 23 to prevent the rotary turret 9 from slipping out of thehousing 1 and is provided at the center thereof with the crossed slot 11adapted to receive therein the depending post B of the flashcube B. Onthe lower surface of the flashcubemounting part 21 are provided radiallyspaced, parallel channels or grooves 25 and 25 which are merging withthe radially opposed slots 11A and 11A of the crossed slot 11,respectively. A flashcube-locking means 24 is provided, which iscomposed of a detent element 26 having a U-shaped configuration to forma pair of arms which are slidably received in the channels or grooves 25and 25. The free ends of the arms are terminating in upright ramped pawlmembers 26A and 26A which are extending upwardly in said radiallyopposed slots 11A and 11A and are engageable by radially oppositeprojections B B a which extend laterally from opposite sides of thedepending post B, to secure the flashcube B in the socket. Detentsprings 27 are each interposed between the detent elements 26 and theblind end of the channel 25 to positively position the upright pawlmembers 26A within the radial slots 11A. The lower part or cam part 22is provided on its upper surface with an upwardly projecting pin 27which is aligned with the center of said crossed slot 11 to guide thepost B of the flashcube B. On the upwardly projecting pin 27 are mounteda coiled ejection spring 29 and a washer member 28 which is looselyfitted in another pair of radially opposed slots 11B adjacent to thefirst pair of slots 11A and 11A to provide means for ejecting theflashcube B from the flashcube socket assembly 3.

It will be seen from FIG. 48 that the cam part 22 is provided on thebottom thereof with four sectors arranged around the periphery of thecam part 22 in equally spaced end-to-end relationship at every angle of90. Three sectors from among said four sectors consist of cam elementsor downwardly projecting ribs 31A, 31B and 31C each of which has a pairof parallel curved cam surfaces 30A and 303 which are substantiallyradially spaced. The cam surfaces 30A and 30B are designed to beradially offset in an inward direction as they are advanced in acounterclockwise direction of the cam part 22, when viewed in FIG. 4B.The residual sector is used as a block 32 to engage with a stopper, aswill be hereinafter described, thereby preventing the rotary turret 9from excess rotation. It will be thus apparent that between adjacentsectors of the four sectors 31A, 31B, 31C and 32 is provided a radialpassage for permitting the stopper to retreat radially along asector-dividing line, not shown. As will be apparent from the followingoperational description with respect to the present invention, theparallel curved cam surfaces 30A and 30B may be formed by means ofchannels or grooves rather than the ribs. In this case, the radialpassages will be of the conventional relief recess type.

Located adjacent to the peripheral wall of the rotary turret 9 andassembled with the baseplate 13 is an operating element 37 which slipsin a guide channel or recess 34 provided on one side of the baseplate13. The operating element 37 is supported with a supporting member 36secured to the upper face of the baseplate 13 through machine screws 35Aand 358. The operating element 37 is forcibly urged by a compressionspring 38, interposed between the operating element 37 and thesupporting member 36, towards a direction where the operating element 37may be kept apart from the rotary turret 9. The operating element 37,thus assembled with the baseplate 13, comprises an arm 37A for operatingthe flashcube-holding means 24, and a stopper arm 37B which is providedwith a traverse groove or channel 39 having the substantially same widthas that of the ribs or cam elements 31A, 31B and 31C. Against the rearface of the operating element 37 may be abutted a rocker arm connectedto a pushbutton 47, which will be hereinafter described in detail.

Reference will be now made to FIG. 5 in which the flashbulb socketassembly 3 is illustrated in detail. A pair of flashbulb-holding pieces42 and 42 are provided within the socket guide opening 8 of the socketmember 6. The flashbulb-holding pieces 42 and 42 are arranged inradially opposite relationship and are pivotally mounted on pins 40 and40 supported in the socket member 6. The flashbulb-holding pieces 42 and42 are, further, normally biased by means of springs 41 and 41 so as tochoke up the socket guide opening 8. The holding pieces 42 and 42 arequite similar to each other in their structure so that each piece maynormally choke up one-half of the socket opening 6. They are eachcomprised ofa main part 428 having the innermost end 42A engageable withthe base A of the flashbulb A and of tail part 42C formed integral withsaid main part 428. The tail part 42C extending outwardly at moderateangles from the main part 428. Base contact members 43 are provided withsprings 43A for urging the base A of the flashbulb A against the ends42A of the holding pieces 42. Those contact members 43 serve aselectrical contacts, as more fully described in our copending U. S.Patent application, Ser. No. 802,545 filed Feb. 26, 1969. An ejector 44is further provided at the back of the socket member 6. The ejector 44comprises a Y-shaped member having a pair of arms 44A and 44A extendingforwardly through the socket member 6. The arm 44A and 44A engage thetail parts 42C of the flashbulb-locking pieces 42 and 42, thuspermitting them to release the base of A l of the flashlamp A. Coiledsprings 45 and 45 surround arms 44A and 44A to bias the ejector 44backwardly in such a manner that the ejector 44 may be normally returnedto its inoperative position. A rearwardly projecting foot 448 of theejector 44 is extended to the vicinity of a rear wall 1C of the housing1 where it engages the pushbutton 47. It should be noted that the coiledsprings 44A and 44A acting on the ejector 44 must be smaller in springconstant than the coiled compression spring 38 acting on the operatingelement 37.

Approximately halfway between the flashbulb socket assembly 2 and theflashcube socket assembly 3, an opening 46 is provided on the rear wall10 of the housing I to receive therein the pushbutton 47 with itsrearmost extremity being projected rearwardly and exposed out of thehousing 1. The pushbutton 47 has a foremost pointed end on which rockerarm 49 is pivotally supported through a connecting pin 48 midway betweenits opposite extremities. The extremities are respectively engageablewith the operating element 37 of the flashcube socket assembly 3 andwith the ejector 44 of the flashbulb socket assembly 2. In theillustrated construction, one extremity 49A of the rocker arm 49 abuttedagainst the operating element 37 of the flashcube socket assembly 3 isbent into an L shape so that the extremity 49A may become a fulcrumduring initial depression of the pushbutton 47. It will be, however,understood that the rocker arm 49 may be bent at both of the oppositeextremities.

With the flashbulb socket assembly 2 arranged and assembled as describedabove, the flasbulb A, for example of bayonet type, is thrust into thesocket guide opening 8 with its base A, forcing the opposedflashbulb-holding pieces 42 and 42 open by swinging rearwardly withtheir respective pin 40 as the fulcrum. The flashbulb A, thus thrustinto the socket opening 8, will be securely held or locked by means ofthe diametrically opposed holding pieces 42 and 42 with their associatedinnermost ends 42A and 42A being snap fitted or engaged to an annulargroove on the base A,. The flashbulb is urged forward against theseinnermost ends 42A by means of the base contact member 43. This appliedirrespective of the type of the flashbulb utilized within the socket.

Now, the flashcube B is mounted on the flashcube socket assembly 3 withthe depending post B being depressed into the crossed slot 11 formed inthe rotary turret 9. Thus, the upright ramped pawl members 26A and 26Aof the flashcubelocking member 24 are at first driven away from theradially opposed slots 11A and 11A into the channels or grooves 25 and25, by means of the ramped, radially extending projectors I3 and B onthe post B, as it is depressed in this socket assemblyQThe pawls arerestored into the slots 11A and 11A by action of the coiled detentsprings 27 and 27 when the projections B, and B are further depressedinwardly across the level of the pawl members 26A and 26A. Theprojections B are then restrained against their upward movement, urgedby the ejection spring Thereafter, a clockwise rotational movement ofthe flashcube B through an angle of 270when viewed from above, causesenergization of the spiral spring 18. At the same time, the stopper arm27B runs in the passage 33D, 33C, 33B and 33A to engage the inwardlyoffset end of the rib 31A with the stop am 378. The result is that thefirst flashbulb in the flashcube B is now accurately faced against theobject to be photographed.

It will be understood from the foregoing that, when the flash switch inthe camera (not shown) is actuated to close the flash circuit, theflashbulb A or a first flashbulb within the flashcube B is ignited forproducing a brief but intense flash of light to illuminate the object tobe photographed. The following will explain, with reference to FIG. 9,what operation or operations may be accomplished to effect removal ofthe flashbulb A, rotary feed of the flashcube B, and the eventualremoval of the flashcube B.

In the illustrated embodiment, the arrangement is designed so that thespring 38 acting on the operating element 37 has a larger springconstant then the spring constant of the springs 45 and 45 acting on theejector 44. Depression of the pushbutton 47 causes the rocker arm 49 toswing with its bent extremity 49A as the fulcrum. Depression of thepushbutton 47, therefore, results in a forward sliding movement of theejector 44 against the coiled springs 45 and 45, thus permitting theforemost ends 44A and 44A thereof to forwardly thrust the tail ends 42Cand 42C of the opposed flashbulb holding pieces 42 and 42 which causesthe opening thereof. The flashbulb A is in this way, brought into areleased condition and at the same time ejected from the socket opening8 by the springloaded base contacting members 43. Thereafter, theejector 44 is moved forwardly until the tail parts 43C make contact withthe stopping face on the socket member 6. Finally, the ejector 44 ceasesto move forward as shown in FIG. 98. Further depression of thepushbutton 47 causes the rocker arm 47 to rock with the point engagingthe ejector 44 acting as the fulcrum, as shown in FIG. 9C. At thispoint, the operating element 37 slides forward along the guide channel34. The traverse channel 39 in the operating element 37 is then alignedwith the rib 31A and consequently the rotary turret 9 will be inunlocked condition. In this condition, the rotary turret 9 will be freeto rotate in the counterclockwise direction, as viewed from above.However, since the rib 31A has the outer cam surface 303 spirallyoriented as previously described, the rotary turret 9, following itslimited rotation, should be locked against rotation with the rib 31Amaking contact with the side edge of the channel 39 (shown in FIG. 8).The rotary turret 9 is held in such condition so long as the pushbutton47 is forcibly depressed. Subsequently, as soon as the pushbutton 47 isreleased, the other side edge of the traverse channel 39 is urgedagainst the inner cam surface 308 extended in parallel with said outercam surface 30A. The operating element 37 is then forcibly biasedrearwardly by the coiled compression spring 38 thus allowing the rotaryturret 9 to be rotated under a damping action. When the stopper arm 37Barrives at the passage 333 in a manner described above, the innermostend face of the rib 31B is abutted against the stopper arm 37B wherebythe rotary turret 9 ceases at a position where the second flashbulb isaccurately faced to the object to be photographed.

It will be thus apparent from the foregoing that the limited rotation ofthe rotary turret 9 is repeated each time a flashbulb within theflashcube is ignited for producing a brief but intense flash of light.After the final or fourth flashbulb has been ignited or burned, thedepression of the pushbutton 47 permits the arm 37A of the operatingelement 37 to engage with the detent element 26 so as to press inwardlythe detent element 26 along the channels or grooyes 25 and 25. As aresult, the

upright pawl members 26A and 26A currently in locking position are movedtowards the channels 25 and 25 to thereby release the radially opposedprojections B and B, so that the flashcube B may be driven out of therotary turret 9 by means of the coiled ejection spring 29.

Having now described the present invention, it will be seen that theimproved flashgun may become extremely compact so that the flashbulbsocket assembly and the flashcube socket assembly may be preferablyconstructed and arranged within a flashgun so as to be portable,compact, and lightweight. The flashcube-rotation control is simple inconstruction, thus trou ble free, and highly reliable in positioning ofthe flashbulb. Ac-

cording to the present invention, further, there is no fear that theflashcube may be damaged due to the intense percussion against theflashcube because the rotary turret control procedure is accomplishedunder a damping action against the rotary turret. The rotary turretcontrol of the present invention has further advantages too numerous'tomention, for example, an advantage that removal operation of theflashcube is easily achieved by merely providing the simple operatingelement for the flashcube-locking means.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present inventionwill become apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the above.Therefore, the present invention should be limited only by the appendedclaims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A photographic flashgun for mounting flashcubes therein, comprising:

housing means;

flashcube socket means within said housing means;

said flashcube socket means including a baseplate;

rotary turret means for receiving said flashcubes mounted upon saidbaseplate;

urging means connecting said rotary turret means to said baseplate meansfor exerting a rotary force thereon; cam elements equally spaced aboutthe periphery of said rotary turret means for forming passagewaystherebetween;

an operating stop element slidably arranged to pass between saidpassageways having a slot therein; radially said cam elements havingparallel camming surfaces which curve outwardly and radially from therotational axis of said rotary turret means along which said slot withinsaid operating stop element is arranged to pass;

one of said cam elements having nonparallel camming sur faces,

said operating stop element resiliently mounted to inwardly slide alongone of said passageways for allowing said cam element to pass throughsaid slot upon alignment therewith thereby allowing the rotation of saidturret means under the urging of said urging means until said operatingstop contacts the next cam element whereupon said sliding operation ofsaid operating stop may be repeated to allow rotation of said turretmeans until said one of said cam elements having nonparallel cammingsurfaces is reached for permanently stopping said rotation thusrotatively controlling the facing of said flashcubes.

2 A photographic flashgun for mounting flashcubes therein as claimed inclaim 1, additionally comprising:

spring ejection means for urging said flashcubes from said rotary turretmeans;

flashcube-locking means slidably mounted within said rotary turret meanshaving pawled leg portions with the uppermost faces thereof formed asinclined ramps for slidably engaging said flashcubes;

urging means attached to said flashcube-locking means arranged to yieldas said flashcubes as received within said rotary turret means andarranged to hold said locking means in locked arrangement against theurging of said spring ejection means after said flashcubes as fullreceived within said rotary turret means, and

pushable means mounted within said housing meansarranged to contact saidflashcube-locking means as said rotary turret means is stopped by saidcam element having nonparallel camming surfaces and said operating stop;

whereby depression of said pushable means moves said flashcube-lockingmeans for ejecting said flashcubes from said rotary turret means.

3. A photographic flashgun for mounting flashcubes therein as claimed inclaim 2, additionally comprising:

flashbulb socket means within said housing means. for mountingvarious-sized flashbulbs having varying base sizes;

a pair of flashbulb-holding means pivotally supported within saidflashbulb socket means for receiving said varioussized flashbulbstherebetween;

base contact means resiliently arranged to contact said base of saidflashbulbs, as said flashbulbs are received between saidflashbulb-holding means, for urging said flashbulbs against saidpivotally supported flashbulb-holding means thereby holding saidflashbulbs therebetween;

movable flashbulb ejector means engaging said flashbulbholding means forcausing said flashbulb-holding means to open upon movement of saidmovable ejector means for ejecting said flashbulbs from said socketmeans; and

said pushable means contracting said movable flashbulb ejector means formoving same and ejecting said flashbulbs from said flashbulb socketmeans.

4. A photographic flashgun for mounting various flashbulbs havingvarying base and bulb sizes, and for mounting flashcubes having adepending cylindrical post with ramps projections extending laterallytherefrom, comprising:

housing means;

flashbulb socket means within said housing means;

a pair of flashbulb-holding means pivotally supported within saidflashbulb socket means for receiving said varioussized flashbulbstherebetween;

base contact means resiliently arranged to contact said base of saidflashbulbs, as said flashbulbs are received between saidflashbulb-holding means, for urging said flashbulbs against saidpivotally supported flashbulb-holding means thereby holding saidflashbulbs therebetween;

movable flashbulb ejector means engaging said flashbulbholding means forcausing said flashbulb-holding means to open upon movement of saidmovable ejector means for ejecting said flashbulbs from said socketmeans;

flashcube socket means within said housing means;

spring ejection means for urging said flashcubes from said flashcubesocket means;

flashcube-locking means slidably mounted within said flashcube socketmeans having pawled leg portions with the uppermost faces thereof formedas inclined ramps for slidably engaging said ramped projections of saidflashcubes;

urging means attached to said flashcube-locking means arranged to yieldas said flashcubes are received within said flashcube socket means andarranged to hold said locking means in locked arrangement against theurging of said spring ejection means after said flashcubes are fullyreceived within said socket means; and

pushable means connected with said movable flashbulb ejector means andsaid flashcube-locking means wherein depression thereof causes themovement of said movable flashbulb ejector means and flashcube-lockingmeans for ejecting said flashbulbs or said flashcubes from said housingmeans.

1. A photographic flashgun for mounting flashcubes therein, comprising:housing means; flashcube socket means within said housing means; saidflashcube socket means including a baseplate; rotary turret means forreceiving said flashcubes mounted upon said baseplate; urging meansconnecting said rotary turret means to said baseplate means for exertinga rotary force thereon; cam elements equally spaced about the peripheryof said rotary turret means for forming passageways therebetween; anoperating stop element slidably arranged to pass between saidpassageways having a slot therein; said cam elements having parallelcamming surfaces which curve outwardly and radially from the rotationalaxis of said rotary turret means along which said slot within saidoperating stop element is arranged to pass; one of said cam elementshaving nonparallel camming surfaces, said operating stop elementresiliently mounted to inwardly slide along one of said passageways forallowing said cam element to pass through said slot upon alignmenttherewith thereby allowing the rotation of said turret means under theurging of said urging means until said operating stop contacts the nextcam element whereupon said sliding operation of said operating stop maybe repeated to allow rotation of said turret means until said one ofsaid cam elements having nonparallel camming surfaces is reached forpermanently stopping said rotation thus rotatively controlling thefacing of said flashcubes.
 2. A photographic flashgun for mountingflashcubes therein as claimed in claim 1, additionally comprising:spring ejection means for urging said flashcubes from said rotary turretmeans; flashcube-locking means slidably mounted within said rotaryturret means having pawled leg portions with the uppermost faces thereofformed as inclined ramps for slidably engaging said flashcubes; urgingmeans attached to said flashcube-locking means arranged to yield as saidflashcubes as received within said rotary turret means and arranged tohold said locking means in locked arrangement against the urging of saidspring ejection means after said flashcubes as full received within saidrotary turret means, and pushable means mounted within said housingmeans arranged to contact said flashcube-locking means as said rotaryturret means is stopped by said cam element having nonparallel cammingsurfaces and said operating stop; whereby depression of said pushablemeans moves said flashcube-locking means for ejecting said flashcubesfrom said rotary turret means.
 3. A photographic flashgun for mountingflashcubes therein as claimed in claim 2, additionally comprising:flashbulb socket means within said housing means for mountingvarious-sized flashbulbs having varying base sizes; a pair offlashbulb-holding means pivotally supported within said flashbulb socketmeans for receiving said various-sized flashbulbs therebetween; basecontact means resiliently arranged to contact said base of saidflashbulbs, as said flashbulbs are received between saidflashbulb-holding means, for urging said flashbulbs against saidpivotally supported flashbulb-holding means thereby holding saidflashbulbs therebetween; movable flashbulb ejector means Engaging saidflashbulb-holding means for causing said flashbulb-holding means to openupon movement of said movable ejector means for ejecting said flashbulbsfrom said socket means; and said pushable means contacting said movableflashbulb ejector means for moving same and ejecting said flashbulbsfrom said flashbulb socket means.
 4. A photographic flashgun formounting various flashbulbs having varying base and bulb sizes, and formounting flashcubes having a depending cylindrical post with rampsprojections extending laterally therefrom, comprising: housing means;flashbulb socket means within said housing means; a pair offlashbulb-holding means pivotally supported within said flashbulb socketmeans for receiving said various-sized flashbulbs therebetween; basecontact means resiliently arranged to contact said base of saidflashbulbs, as said flashbulbs are received between saidflashbulb-holding means, for urging said flashbulbs against saidpivotally supported flashbulb-holding means thereby holding saidflashbulbs therebetween; movable flashbulb ejector means engaging saidflashbulb-holding means for causing said flashbulb-holding means to openupon movement of said movable ejector means for ejecting said flashbulbsfrom said socket means; flashcube socket means within said housingmeans; spring ejection means for urging said flashcubes from saidflashcube socket means; flashcube-locking means slidably mounted withinsaid flashcube socket means having pawled leg portions with theuppermost faces thereof formed as inclined ramps for slidably engagingsaid ramped projections of said flashcubes; urging means attached tosaid flashcube-locking means arranged to yield as said flashcubes arereceived within said flashcube socket means and arranged to hold saidlocking means in locked arrangement against the urging of said springejection means after said flashcubes are fully received within saidsocket means; and pushable means connected with said movable flashbulbejector means and said flashcube-locking means wherein depressionthereof causes the movement of said movable flashbulb ejector means andflashcube-locking means for ejecting said flashbulbs or said flashcubesfrom said housing means.